Wheeled push toy apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wheeled push toy apparatus for allowing children and teenagers to have fun riding the toy apparatus is disclosed. The wheeled push toy apparatus includes a wheel assembly configured to freely rotate about an axle and a pair of adjustable arms connected to a pair of ends of the axle to enable free rotation of the wheel assembly. The pair of adjustable arms is connected in form of a U-shape portion. A telescopic handle portion is attached to the U-shape portion formed by the pair of adjustable arms. The telescopic handle portion has a first end attached to the U-shape portion and a second end connected to a holding handle portion. The holding handle portion provides comfortable grip to the users while playing with the wheeled push toy apparatus. The holding handle portion is provided with a braking button to control the rotation of the wheel assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENT Technical Field of the Embodiment

The present embodiment relates to a wheeled push toy for children. Morespecifically, the present embodiment relates to a wheeled push toy thatcan be used by children and teenagers for fun and for exercise.

Description of the Related Art

Toy rolling hoops and guide sticks have been known for many years astoys for the amusement of children. A wide variety of playing apparatussuch as toy hoops and guide sticks with specialized controls areavailable for children. These playing apparatuses also function as anexercising apparatus for the children. The playing apparatus such as toyhoops and guide sticks enables children to perform a wide variety ofmaneuvers and tricks on a rolling hoop. With the increasing knowledge ofthe importance of physical exercise to the maintenance of good health,recent attention has been given to the use of such toy hoops and guidesticks as providing entertaining exercise devices.

Children have long enjoyed pushing a hoop. It is a healthy aerobicactivity, which develops coordination. One problem with a rolling hoopis that it is difficult to guide once it is rolling. Another problem isthat a rolling hoop soon attains velocity, which is difficult to runwith. A common hoop is not very alluring to a child's eye. There is aniche for a more stimulating hoop, which can be guided while rolling sothat it may be rolled along a turning walkway. A hoop, which would havesufficient internal friction or controls so that it will not run awayfrom running child.

Various types of toy hoops and guide sticks are known in the prior art,in which the following patents are herein incorporated by reference fortheir supportive teachings, and include the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,443, which issued to M. Olson on Jun. 7, 1966. Thispatent discloses an elongated guide stick having a bifurcated endportion for manipulation of a circular hoop. The circular hoop is formedfrom a plastic material with a frictional connection fitting. U.S. Pat.No. 3,788,000, which issued to J. Jenkins on Jan. 29, 1974, discloses atoy hoop and guide stick which utilizes an elongated wooden stickprovided with a transversely extending wire hoop engaging element. U.S.Pat. No. 4,091,564, which issued to I. Jasinski on May 30, 1978,discloses a toy circular disk and an associated elongated guide stick.The guide stick has a rectangular channel member having a width onlyslightly greater than the width of the associated disk. U.S. Pat. No.4,453,341, which issued to E. Klukos on Jun. 12, 1984, discloses a toycircular hoop and associated guide stick. The guide stick has abifurcated end portion for manipulation of the hoop. U.S. Pat. No.4,616,830, which issued to A. Moore on Oct. 14, 1986, discloses acircular disk-shaped wheel adapted for manipulation by an elongatedguide stick. A U-shaped wire member is secured adjacent one end of theguide stick.

Another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,069 A1 issued to by Sterlindiscloses a toy hoop and guide stick that allows the hoop to be rolledalong and controlled by an individual through use of the guide stick. Arectangular channel member is secured to an end portion of the guidestick and has a width equal to about twice the width of the hoop. Thisallows a wide variety of maneuvers and tricks to be performed bymanipulating the hoop. In a second embodiment, the circular hoop has ahollow circular interior track receiving a plurality of elongatedrolling members. The hoop is formed from a transparent material to allowobservation of the rolling members. The rolling members including aphosphorescent material. However the above prior art do not includeproper breaking controls to control the rotation of the toy hoop.

Hence, it can be seen that there is a need for a modified or modernversion of a wheeled push toy apparatus that can be used by children andteenagers for fun and for performing exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a wheeled push toy apparatus for allowing usersespecially children and teenagers to have fun riding the toy apparatus.The present wheeled push toy apparatus also enables the users such aschildren and teenagers to perform exercise while pushing the wheeledpush toy apparatus. The wheeled push toy apparatus allows the users suchas children and teenagers to play with the apparatus and to perform anexercise such as walking and running exercises with the wheeled push toyapparatus. The wheeled push toy apparatus includes a wheel assembly thatis configured to freely rotate about an axle. The wheeled push toyapparatus further includes a pair of adjustable arms, each of which areconnected to a pair of ends of an axle to enable free rotation of thewheel assembly. The pair of adjustable arms is connected in form of aU-shape portion. A telescopic handle portion is attached to the U-shapeportion formed by the pair of adjustable arms. The telescopic handleportion has a first end and a second end, where the first end of thetelescopic handle portion is attached to the U-shape portion and asecond end of the telescopic handle portion is connected to a holdinghandle portion. The holding handle portion provides comfortable grip tothe users while playing with the wheeled push toy apparatus. The holdinghandle portion attached to the telescopic handle portion, which in turnto the U-shape portion formed by the pair of adjustable arms enables theuser to push the wheel assembly forward in a desired direction as partof a fun game or exercise.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale inorder to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of thesevarious elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elementsthat are known to be common and well understood to those in the industryare not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the variousembodiments of the invention, thus the drawings are generalized in formin the interest of clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present wheeled push toyapparatus, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the present wheeled push toyapparatus, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the wheel assembly of the presentwheeled push toy apparatus; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view showing the U-shaped pair of armsattached to the first end of the telescopic handle portion and theholding handle portion connected to the second end of the telescopichandle portion, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments andapplications of the present invention, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilizedand changes may be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be usedindependently of one another or in combination with other features.However, any single inventive feature may not address any of theproblems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussedabove. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not befully addressed by any of the features described below.

The present disclosure relates to the field of push toy devices and moreparticularly to a wheeled push toy apparatus for allowing usersespecially children and teenagers to have fun riding the toy apparatus.The present wheeled push toy apparatus also enables the users such aschildren and teenagers to perform exercise while pushing the wheeledpush toy apparatus. The present wheeled push toy apparatus is similar toa roll-n-move toys, which allows the users such as children to push orroll a wheel attached to a rod or handle. The present wheeled push toyapparatus allow the users to have fun and allows them to perform outdooror indoor walking and running exercises while playing with the presentwheeled push toy apparatus.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present wheeled push toyapparatus 100, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The wheeled push toy apparatus 100 allows the users such aschildren and teenagers to play with the apparatus 100 and to perform anexercise such as walking and running exercises with the wheeled push toyapparatus 100. The wheeled push toy apparatus 100 includes a wheelassembly 102 that is configured to freely rotate about an axle 108. Thewheel assembly 102 of the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 includes anumber of spokes, as in motorbikes and bicycles, having different shapesand designs. The spokes are attached to the inside rim of the wheelassembly 102 and to the axle 108 so that the spokes extends radiallyoutwards from the axle 108. The axle 108 includes ball bearings or othertype of mechanical arrangements for reducing friction and for enablingeasy and free rotation of the wheel assembly 102. The present wheeledpush toy apparatus 100 further includes a pair of adjustable arms 104 a,104 b, each of which are connected to a pair of ends of the axle 108 toenable free rotation of the wheel assembly 102. The pair of adjustablearms 104 a, 104 b are connected in form of a U-shape portion. Atelescopic handle portion 106 is attached to the U-shape portion formedby the pair of adjustable arms 104 a, 104 b. The telescopic handleportion 106 attached to the U-shape portion formed by the pair ofadjustable arms 104 a, 104 b enables the user to push the wheel assembly102 forward in a desired direction as part of a fun game or exercise.

The telescopic handle portion 106 has a first end and a second end,where the first end of the telescopic handle portion 106 is attached tothe U-shape portion and a second end of the telescopic handle portion106 is connected to a holding handle portion 110. The holding handleportion 110 provides comfortable grip to the users while playing withthe wheeled push toy apparatus 100. The holding handle portion 110 alsoincludes a number of controls or control buttons for controlling therotation operation of the wheel assembly 102 of the wheeled push toyapparatus 100. The holding handle portion 110 is covered using softmaterials, such as, but not limited to, rubber, fabric etc., which allowthe users to comfortably hold onto the holding handle portion 110 whileplaying and performing the walking or running exercises with the presentwheeled push toy apparatus 100. The present wheeled push toy apparatus100 is essentially a wheeled pushable apparatus, which can be pushed inany direction, having built-in lighting and sound generatingarrangements for engaging the children playing with the apparatus 100with fun and amusement. The U-shaped pair of arms 104 a, 104 b attachedto the first end of the telescopic handle portion 106 and the holdinghandle portion 110 connected to the second end of the telescopic handleportion 106 forms an elongated steering column or steering arrangementof the wheel assembly 102. Further the present wheeled push toyapparatus 100 includes a number of electronic controls to control themovement or rotations of the wheel assembly 102.

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the present wheeled push toyapparatus 100, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The U-shaped pair of arms 104 a, 104 b attached to the firstend of the telescopic handle portion 106 and the holding handle portion110 connected to the second end of the telescopic handle portion 106forming the elongated steering column enables the users of any height,such as use by both small children and teenagers, to conveniently holdthe holding handle portion 110 and push forward the wheeled push toyapparatus 100 for fun and for performing exercise. To accommodate usersof any stature, the telescopic handle portion 106 can be adjusted orexpanded and fix a desired length and lock using a locking collar. Theholding handle portion 110 has several control buttons for controllingthe rotation of the wheel assembly 102 and the lighting and soundcontrol buttons, according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a perspectiveview of the wheel assembly 102 of the present wheeled push toy apparatus100. The wheel assembly 102 includes a number of lighting means 112 toprovide illumination during rotation of the wheel assembly. The lightingmeans 112 include light emitting diode (LED) lights, which emit lightsof same color, or different colors continuously or at intervals duringthe usage of the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100. In someinstance, the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 includes a number ofbright, neon hued LED's arranged on the rim of the wheel assembly andconfigured to change color or become bright depending on the speed ofrotation of the wheel assembly 102. In an embodiment, the user canselect different modes of lighting display from a control panelassociated with the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100. The colorfullighting on the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 attracts the children touse the apparatus for playing and for fun. The wheel assembly 102includes at least one sound-emitting device 114 to produce sound duringrotation of the wheel assembly 102. In some instance, the soundsound-emitting device 114 is attached to the rim of the wheel assembly102. The user can push the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 and can alertothers by producing a sound using the sound-emitting device 114. In apreferred embodiment, the wheel assembly 102 is made from rigid andnon-corrosive materials including stainless steel. The exterior surfaceof the wheel assembly 102, coming in contact with the floor is protectedusing rubberized coating. In some instance, the lighting means 112 andthe sound-emitting device 114 provided on the wheel assembly 102 is madewaterproof, thereby allowing the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100to be used in both dry and wet conditions.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view showing the U-shaped pair of arms 104 a,104 b attached to the first end of the telescopic handle portion 106 andthe holding handle portion 110 connected to the second end of thetelescopic handle portion 106, according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The holding handle portion 110 connected to thesecond end of the telescopic handle portion 106 has a comfortable gripcover on its surface to allow the users to comfortably and effortlesslyhold the holding handle portion 110 during playing and during exercise.In some instances, the telescopic handle portion 106 and the holdinghandle portion 110 connected to the second end of the telescopic handleportion 106 has an elongated tubular shape having a length ofapproximately one meter for enabling the users to conveniently hold theholding handle portion 110 and push the wheel assembly 102. In someinstances, the holding handle portion 110 is covered using a handgripwith a tubular elongated ABS plastic material. However the telescopichandle portion 106 can be extended or retracted by the user to adjustthe length of the telescopic handle portion 106 and the connectedholding handle portion 110. The telescopic handle portion 106 isprovided with the locking collar and the hollow holding handle portion110 with the telescopic handle portion 106, which can be expandedwhenever desired. Moreover the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100allows the usage of wheel assembly 102 of any desired direction such as,but not limited to wheels of diameters including ten inch for kids andchildren, twenty and thirty inches for teenagers. The rubberized coatingon the wheel enables it to become a heavy-duty wheel such as a bicyclewheel.

The holding handle portion 110 connected to the second end of thetelescopic handle portion 106 includes a number of control buttonsincluding a on/off button for the wheeled push toy apparatus 100, abraking button 116 to control the rotation of the wheel assembly 102,and a sound horn button 118 to generate sound. The audio from thesound-emitting device is controlled using the sound horn button 118provided on the holding handle portion 110. The holding handle portion110 attached to the telescopic handle portion 106 includes a brakingbutton 116 to control the rotation of the wheel assembly 110. The pairof adjustable arms 104 a, 104 b forming the U-shape portion connected tothe axle 108 of the wheel portion 102 of the present wheeled push toyapparatus is adjustable or movable. i.e. the distance between the pairof adjustable arms 104 a, 104 b forming the U-shape portion can beadjusted automatically to control the rotation of the axle 108 and thewheel assembly 102 attached to it. The U-shape portion includes anelectric motor controlled using the braking button 116 to adjust thedistance between the arms 104 a, 104 b of the U-shape portion and tocontrol the rotation of the wheel assembly 102. The on/off button forthe wheeled push toy apparatus 100 may control the lighting of the wheelassembly. Further the sound horn button 118 on the holding handleportion 110, when activated, causes the sound-emitting device 114 on thewheel assembly 102 to create a sound. The LED lighting or the lightingmeans 112 and the sound-emitting device 114 enables the user to safelyuse the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100 both at night and day. Insome instances, the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 carries a portablepower supply means with the holding handle portion 110 to power theelectronic components such as the sound-emitting device 114, the LEDlighting or the lighting means 112, etc. The portable power supply meansincludes a rechargeable lithium Ion battery either placed in the holdinghandle portion 110 or on the wheel portion 102 or on the U-shape portionand the users can recharge the battery whenever needed through normalpower outlets.

A method of using the present wheeled push toy apparatus 100 includesthe steps of making the wheel portion of the wheeled push toy apparatus100 upright and holding the holding handle portion 110 of the apparatus100. Then pushing the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 forward to rotatethe wheel portion 102 and then turning on the LED lights and the soundduring the movement of the wheeled push toy apparatus 100 in a desireddirection. The U-shape portion and the attached telescopic handleportion is rotatable about the wheel assembly in a 360-degree direction.The LED lights and the sound are turned on automatically or using manualcontrols provided on the holding handle portion 110 of the apparatus100. In some instance, the movement of the user holding the wheeled pushtoy apparatus 100 can be tracked using the existing exercisingapplications installed on the smartphone or wearable device of the userto track the physical activity of the user while playing with thewheeled push toy apparatus 100.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been presented for the purpose of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example,different designs of the handle portion of the wheeled push toyapparatus 100 can be provided. Further different colors can be providedfor the different parts of the wheeled push toy apparatus 100. It isintended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by thisdetailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to theclaims appended hereto.

1-17. (canceled) 18-20. (canceled)
 21. A push toy, consistingessentially of: a) a single wheel, having: a wheel rim, an axil, andspokes connected between the axil and wheel rim; b) a first and secondarm, each having an axil connecting end coupled to the axil on oppositesides of the single wheel; c) a handle, having: an arm connecting end,coupled to a second end of both the first and second arms, and a holdingend, designed to enable a user to hold onto the handle, wherein theconnecting end and the holding end are coupled to each other in atelescoping arrangement to enable a user to shorten and lengthen anoverall length of the handle; d) a plurality of lights, fixedly attachedto the rim of the wheel, to illuminate the push toy when in operation;and e) a sound emitting device, coupled to the push toy, to emit soundwhen the push toy is in operation; f) a braking device to slow or stopthe forward motion of the push toy that is controllable by the user; g)a power supply, positioned on the push toy thereof, and coupled to thesound emitting device, and the plurality of lights, to enable operationthereof; h) an on/off lighting button, coupled: on the handle, to theplurality of lights, and the power supply, to control activationthereof; i) a braking button, coupled: on the handle, and to the singlewheel, to control the rotation of the single wheel thereof; j) a soundhorn button, coupled: on the handle, to the power supply, and to thesound emitting device, to control the operation thereof; k) a controldevice to control the plurality of lights to illuminate at a first lightcolor when the push toy is moving at a first speed, and the plurality oflights illuminate at a second light color that is different from thefirst light color when the push toy is moving at a second speed that isdifferent from the first speed; and l) wherein the control means is toalso control the plurality of lights to illuminate at a first lightbrightness when the push toy is moving at a first speed, and theplurality of lights illuminate at a second light brightness that isdifferent from the first light brightness when the push toy is moving ata second speed that is different from the first speed.